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Lady Luck

WNBA best bets


Phoenix Mercury at Minnesota Lynx (+2.5, 178.5)

The Lynx really miss Seimone Augustus.

Tearing her ACL just 24 hours after dropping 30 points in an 86-83 win at Sacramento, the Lynx watched their star and the team’s leading scorer go down for the remainder of the season. And the squad has greatly missed Augustus’ 21 points per game, as it has dropped two of its past three after winning four of five to start the season.

If Minnesota (5-3) is to regroup and continue its push for the playoffs, it must get past Phoenix (6-3), which has used its up-tempo attack to rocket to first place in the Western Conference standings.

For Minnesota to have a chance, it must get a standout performance from Candice Wiggins (13.3 ppg) to counter Phoenix star Diana Taurasi (22.6 ppg).

Pick: Mercury -2.5


Washington Mystics at Chicago Sky (-5.5, 151)

The sky is the limit for Chicago as long as they have Jia Perkins.

Perkins again saved the Sky when she buried the game-winning jumper in a 99-98 win over the Atlanta Dream. She finished the game with 20 points, further cementing the fact her season averages of 17.9 points, 4.7 rebounds and four assists per game are no fluke.

"She is one of our All-Stars, even though she hasn't been voted in yet," Chicago coach Steven Key told the Associated Press. "Jia put us on her back."

If the Sky are to remain perfect at home, they must take advantage of the mediocre Washington defense which yields 78 points per game.

Pick: Sky -5.5

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